Somaliland:Government Calls on Opposition National Party (Wadani) to Respect the Country’s Electoral Laws

Somalilandsun:The government has issued a stern warning to the opposition national party
to respect the country’s election laws. This is according to a press
release from the office of minister of information, culture and national
guidance Mr.Abdirahman Abdillahi Farah (Guri-Barwaqo) which Somaliland News
Agency (Solnanews.com) disseminated.

“This country belongs to all people of Somaliland hence it is important for
all of them to respect the laws of the land. For instance the current
Somaliland Electoral Commission came into being through a legitimate law
after the executive and legislature consented on the seven commissioners
who were drawn from the three national political parties. They even oversaw
the 2017 presidential election. The elections exercise is a competition
between political parties and after the election there is only one victor
announced by the national electoral body so it is prudent for the
competitors to respect the decision of the referee which is the Somaliland
Electoral Commission (SLNEC). We have to follow the rules and regulations
we have set to govern ourselves or else we shall become a people who do not
respect the laws they have made.”

The Somaliland Electoral Commission (SLNEC) has term limit enshrined in the
constitution their appointments and retirements has well been defined in
the election laws.

The minister added that it was wrong to remove the electoral commissioners
before the expiry of their legitimate tenure.

Minister Guri-Barwaqo said “If every losers wants the electoral commission
to be sacked this will ruin our country and democratic system since we will
become a people without principles.”

The minster went on to say that he is quite perplexed by the opposition
National Party (Wadani) who honorably accepted their defeat in the 2017
presidential election now allege that the election was rigged.

“How will the international community gauge us when we blindly by pass the
set electoral rules and regulations?” Minister Guri-Barwaqo quipped.

“During the last presidential election we allowed international election
observers to monitor our elections they were drawn from 27 countries their
leader was Mr.Michael Walls, who returned to the country last month.
However it a primitive threat by cross-section of Wadani supporters to warn
Mr.Michael Walls from setting foot into the country. What impression is the
opposition National Party (Wadani) giving to the international community?
They want to drag the name of Somaliland and what it stands for in the mud.”

The minister informed Mr.Michael Wall and other person wishing to visit
Somaliland that they are welcome. He said Somaliland is a country that
represents peace and hospitality to visitors and not even the
opposition could
stop that reality.